ELECTRICAL DESIGN

Fine ELEC belongs to the 4M BIM Suite of software for Architecture & Engineering. Based on an AutoCAD-like environement it uses also DWG as its native file format for an unrivaled compatibility with AutoCAD. The 4M BIM Software are renown by BIM experts to be the BIM software offering the most intuitive transition for AutoCAD users. Their price is also up to 4 times lower than the one of their main competitor.

BIM Innovative Design: New BIM design with a total code restructure based on the ODA-Teigha libraries and a 64bit Architecture to ensure unrivaled performances on the display engine and the open/save & read/write functions.

New Interface: New BIM interface including Ribbon menus, enhanced toolbars, sophisticated property panel, enhanced dialogs for the BIM entities and widespread use of grips.

Advanced Modelling Features

New BIM objects (i.e. walls of any shape, corner openings, continuous surfaces on the wall joints with composite building elements etc)

Quick editing of the BIM objects, due to the extended property panel in conjunction with the filter selection and the use of grips.

Integration of the electrical installation drawings within the 3D architectural model.

High quality fast rendering to create realistic views of both, the building shell and the MEP installations.

Full BIM Compatibility and Interoperability: Maximum interoperability with every BIM application (i.e. Revit, Archicad etc) and seamless integration among the FINE-MEP verticals, as well as with IDEA and FineGREEN.

New Powerful CAD Engine: Embeds all the new features of the latest 4MCAD v.19, more powerful than ever, engine.

FineELEC Features & Highlights

EASY TRANSITION

The Easiest Switch for CAD Users to BIM and MEP Software

In Fine ELEC you just need to master some very simple 2D commands any CAD user knows like drawing polylines, trim or extend and the software will build the 2D and 3D project out of these very simple steps. Fine ELEC combines an AutoCAD-like look and feel and an advanced BIM technology that will help you to draw your project and networks.

Draw the Building in a few clicks

If you do not feel like drawing a 3D BIM model you can use a DWG drawing in the background or just draw it yourself using Fine ELEC's CAD features.

Drawing the building in 3D with BIM objects is not required to calculate the cables, protection devices, short circuit controls, permissible current in each line, voltage drops and more but Fine ELEC will help you to do it in just a few clicks. Calculation and design are independent modules : you can use only one for some projects if, for example, you like to enter just the data in a table to calculate the network.

To draw the building you just need to focus on floor plans using the intelligent and parametric objects of the AutoBLD menu and Fine ELEC will build the 3D for you. A simple double-click on any object will display its properties for modification. You have all the required tools to create or modify the BIM model without using any other software.

Alternatively you can also open a project created with any other 4M BIM Software and will not have to draw the building. You may for example open a project created with IDEA Architecture.

Unrivaled Compatibility with AutoCAD

Unlike other BIM MEP Software, Fine ELEC uses DWG as its native file format and includes features to convert into vectors all the sophisticated objects you will use in the BIM project. Once converted into simple vectors our objects will be visible in AutoCAD® as CAD entities users can modify. Sharing 2D or 3D files with other professionals is therefore much easier.

Includes a Full CAD Software

This MEP Software includes all the features of 4MCAD , our alternative to AutoCAD®. You get 2 software in one, your can keep using CAD to edit some DWG drawings.

NETWORKS

Intelligent Network Design

Unlike in other BIM software, Fine ELEC's advanced and very intuitive BIM technology does not come at the expense of speed, it is just the opposite : you just need to draw a few single lines and the software will do the rest.

Extensive Library of Components

Fine ELEC includes extensive libraries of receptors and electrical devices: panels, receptors, appliances, lights, switches... Some of them like lights can be automatically placed in the rooms. These libraries can also be extended by the user who can change the symbols and add more components.

Automated Design of Electrical Cables (Autorouting)

Cables can be drawn with simple commands (just polylines) but you can also take advantage of some expert routing commands like "Cables Parallel to Wall, automatically connected to the receptors" to speed up the process.

Update Drawing from Calculation

After performing the calculations you can update the drawing from the calculation and insert in the floor plans the information resulting from the results.

Fine ELEC will also help you to create automatically the legend table showing the signification of the symbols used in the drawing and of course to generate all the technical drawings like the system diagrams and panel drawings.

CALCULATIONS

Calculate the Electrical Installation

Fine ELEC's Calculation module is closely interacting with the installation drawing. Calculations are performed following the norms HD 384, IEC 60364, BS 7671 and VDE.

Calculate from the Drawing

Fine ELEC's Calculation module will read the drawing and display into tables all the details required to proceed to the calculations. You can of course modify these data if you want for example to anticipate a future extension of the network.

Get all the Results in a few clicks

You can calculate the cables and protection devices taking into account any relative parameter (ambient temperature, cable installation method and means etc.).

Intermediate calculation results (e.g. permissible current in each line, voltage drops etc) are also presented. Optimization routines (such as automatic phases allocation) and control procedures (such as short circuit controls etc) are also accomplished.

In addition the program produces the bill of materials, and a series of technical descriptions. All the results are shown in the calculations output and are completely documented. Results are sent back to the drawing and exported in a calculation report you can customize.

2D OUTPUTS

Get all the Electrical Drawings of your Electrical Installation

After proceeding to the design of the network and calculations our Electrical Software will let you generate all the technical drawings and reports you need.

Technical Diagrams and Panel Charts

Our Electrical Software will generate for you the technical drawings of the project in DWG drawings you can further modify and/or share.

Technical Reports and Bill of Materials

Fine ELEC will generate a document with the calculation results and the bill of materials describing the quantities of each of the components and cables required to build the Electrical installation. The template of this document can be customized and you can chose which results you want to display.

Project Drawings

The floor plans of the Building will be updated with the results of calculation with labels to define the details of each component. As a result you will be able to generate floor plans in DWG showing all the receptors and networks you have defined.

BIM

The Power of BIM for Electrical Design and Calculation

Founded in 1986, 4M has a long experience of BIM with a full suite of BIM Software for Architecture & MEP which first version wa slaunched in 1993. The 4M BIM Software are renown by experts to be the BIM software offering the easiest and quickest switch for AutoCAD users as they are the only ones to use DWG as their native file format and an AutoCAD-like look-and-feel.

BIM Design and Collaboration in FineELEC

FineELEC's sophisticated BIM technology will boost your productivity. The software "understands" you and with the help of our smart modelers and libraries of ready-t-use components or BIM objects you will be able to draw the building much faster and easier.

Our Electrical software includes a Calculation module and a Design module that will closely collaborate together. Fine ELEC will simply read the BIM model to understand the installation and proceed to calculations before finally updating the electrical installation with the calculation results.

Last but not least you will be able to collaborate with other BIM software and share your electrical installation with other architects and engineers working one the same project.

Cost Estimating and Bill of Materials (BoM)

The BIM information can also be extracted from the project to instantly calculate the cost and create a Bill of Materials.